It has been a season to forget for Barcelona. Not only did they have to watch their rivals Real Madrid lift the La Liga title, but there are also rumours of all kinds of fractions within the squad with players and management staff.

Barcelona’s hopes over the last few years have rested on the shoulders of Lionel Messi. Some suggest he not only calls the shots on the pitch, he does the same in the dressing room, with team selection and tactics coming from the Argentine.

If the above is true, then Messi has to deliver more success in the Champions League success in order for him to justify his influence on how the club is run, especially after the humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich.

There is no doubt Messi has been one of the best players the game has ever seen. Not only has he won the Ballon d’Or crown on six occasions, he is a four-time winner of Europe’s premier competition. Despite his glittering CV, football is about the present. Messi is the figurehead at the Catalan club. Until he decides to call it a day, the team will continue to be built around Barca’s number 10. Barcelona fans demand Champions League success every single season so for them not to have won the trophy since 2015, is not acceptable.

As the captain, Messi has to take a lot of responsibility for the way his side capitulated at Anfield last season in the semi-final. They travelled to England with a three-goal advantage which should have been enough to make the final. A 4-0 defeat in the second leg meant they were eliminated in the last four. It seemed like it would be hard to top that, but the loss to Bayern this season is even more embarrassing.

Messi Always Going to Be Compared with Ronaldo

For over two decades now, the question many football fans have been asking is: who is better, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? The two players are, therefore, often compared against each other in terms of what they have achieved.

Right now, Messi trails his rival by one in the Champions League wins. Ronaldo was successful in 2008 with Manchester United, while he won the trophy on four occasions with Real Madrid. The Portuguese international has also won a major international tournament, something Messi can only dream about doing now.

If Barcelona, with Messi in the driving seat, can win the Champions League next season, Messi will match his rival. However, Bayern are favourites this season with UEFA Champions League odds of 8/15 to lift the trophy in Lisbon.

At the age of 33, Messi is unlikely to retire any time soon. The tournament is, however, becoming harder to win. With Manchester City, Liverpool, PSG and Bayern Munich all looking strong at the moment, the Spanish giants no longer have it all their own way. But there is always hope when Barca have Messi.

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From Suffolk Gazette’s pottery partner, Dirty Old Goat

We all dream of winning a huge amount of money on a horse race. It’s not an easy task, though, and a bit of help from a tipster is most definitely needed. Do you really think you can work out a typical devilish handicap at Sandown on a Saturday afternoon all by yourself? If you can, then perhaps a career as a horse racing tipster is on the horizon.

Often, it’s a thankless task being a horse racing tipster. All that checking of form can produce what looks like tips that make total sense. Then the selection has an off-day (it happens to all of us, even horses), gets impeded or unseats its jockey and loses all hope of winning the race.

Tipsters have been around for as long as the memory can stretch back. Newspapers print the cards for the races that are taking place that day, but that’s not enough for the readers. They want a helping hand, and over the years, race lovers have avidly followed tipsters such as ‘Templegate’ or ‘Newsboy’.

Specialist publications such as the Racing Post publish daily issues with page after page of information about horse racing. The arrival of the internet has of course seen even more information become available to horse racing fans. The Racing Post has its own website packed to the brim with statistics and racing tipsters.

Plenty of Information Online

There are a growing number of online betting sites which cover horse racing from all over the globe on a 24/7 basis. Many like 888 Horse racing betting tips provides for a reliable source for tipsters online. They continually publish blogs that take an in-depth look at future races, especially the top ones such as The Stewards Cup or a classic race such as the St Leger. These are good tipsters sources worthy of your time.

Trying to work out who is going to win a race such as the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham isn’t easy. Lots of horses taking part and many who have just had one or two races and could be the next Arkle or possibly not. Getting the help of an experienced racing tipster is definitely needed here.

Then there are complicated handicaps such as the Grand National. Every National Hunt jockey dreams of riding the winner. For gamblers, it’s something to boast about for ages if they just happen to back the winner. This and other races such as The Derby and The Cheltenham Gold Cup are difficult to predict – although Al Boum has won two Gold Cups in a row.

Will your tips cost you anything, though? A glance at the racing pages in a newspaper will see adverts from tipsters who charge for their services. There are even more online offering tips on Twitter and Facebook. They all boast about the number of winners they have had, though if that’s the case why do they need to work? Some do produce great results, but the law of averages says they won’t get a winner with every tip (that’s why they still work).  Do some research about those who offer tips and find out who is the best.

A Long Apprenticeship

What if you fancy yourself as a racing tipster? Becoming one isn’t something that is going to happen overnight; a long apprenticeship lies ahead of you. Take a look at the average formbook and gasp at how large they are, going through that is going to take you a while and form changes every day.

Learning how to become a racing tipster is a difficult job. You need to follow the sport very closely. Don’t just try to predict the results of top races such as The Coral Eclipse, because high-profile runs don’t happen every week. Low-level Class 6 handicaps at tracks such as Uttoxeter and Kelso do. As in most sports, it’s only a minority of performers that make it to the top.

Learn how to judge the form of a horse for all races and meetings, from Ascot and Cheltenham to the Grand National. Look at how they perform over certain distances and which ground they prefer to run on. The more racing that you follow, the more knowledge you will gather.

Once you feel confident enough to be a racing tipster, start small on Facebook or Twitter. Offer the occasional tip and hopefully give out a few winners at good prices. That will help build a following; then you can expand your tipping service and start charging a subscription. Marketing is essential here in a competitive industry.

Horse racing may be the Sport of Kings but becoming a tipster isn’t easy. It takes a lot of learning, and then the least expected event happens. You could become a master tipster, but then there’s a 300/1 winner at Leopardstown, how many tipped that result?

American football is an exciting game that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Each player is gifted not only physically but also in speed, strength, and stamina. Only the strongest and fastest can play in a robust game like this, which makes it exciting. But besides fitness components, winning a football game means planning a smart strategy.

Different strategies between teams keep the game interesting. It will require understanding the game, stats between players, and a few tricks up in one’s sleeves. Because of this, some football enthusiasts that have a full grasp of the sport football actively participate in daily fantasy football.

DFS Football or Daily Fantasy Sport: Football is an accelerated version of the traditional football sport. It lasts for a week or a day rather than betting and waiting for a whole season to finish. DFS players compete against one another under a wage cap where the point-basis refers to the statistical equivalent from an athlete’s real-world performance. To increase your chances of winning, you can try these nine game plans when playing DFS Football.

Always Think About the Money

When playing Daily Fantasy NFL, you should maintain a mindset that you are about to lose your money. A good strategy will not assure your win, but it will better your odds. Responsible cash allocation is necessary to limit your risks in losing an enormous amount of cash. Regardless of the payout percentage, only bet a maximum of 10% from your bankroll. Always opt to play safe.

Fully Digest the Scoring System of Your Chosen Site

The Daily Fantasy Sports industry has two leading services, and its scoring system has similarities. However, always take note that the differences in the scoring system can affect your odds while playing. Take note of the availability for a flex position or kicker, additional milestone scoring, and grant points for the reception.

Take Account of Under/Over Line Set By Line Makers

It may be an obvious SOP. However, some bettors admire their line up of favorite football players so much that they forget to consider the over/under number. Linemakers understand football beyond roots as they run simulations and statistics to assign a value correctly. Moreover, considering the over/under number won’t cost you a dollar, so better check it out.

Join Beginners’ Contest if You’re Still Qualified

There’s no shame in joining beginners’ contests. Your odds in winning are higher when playing in this category. For example, FanDuel has a Beginner’s 50/50, which means the top half wins, and Beginner’s Tournament, which means higher payouts. Additionally, in this category, you can avoid playing with betting sharks that lowers your chances of winning.

Try Playing Single Entry Contests

Always remember that betting sharks are always lurking, especially in the Daily Fantasy sports industry. They are vicious, equipped with computer programs, and have a lot of cash. It is best to avoid them by playing in single entry contests. In this case, you’ll know that you’re up against unique entries, rather than playing against a competitor with multiple entries.

Do Not Post Games

If you already graduated from the Beginner’s Contest, best to keep your head low and observe the new arena you are playing in. There’s a big chance that you’ll be playing against someone who’s more experienced than you, so avoid posting games. You’re not a coward. You’re smart enough to spend money wisely on games that have higher odds.

Using Fading Strategically

Fading is a strategy that means you intentionally avoid players with a high chance of ownership. Don’t always go with the crow. Instead, go against it in given circumstances. For example, people will usually pass on injured players. However, with a reliable source that knows the definite line up for the next game, you are at an advantage.

Don’t Mind the Expected Ownership Percentage

In contrast to the aforementioned game plan, this strategy is advisable when you are playing in cash games. Cash games include Head-to-Head games, Double-Up, or 50/50, where the upper 50% entries are winners. Ownership percentage is not an issue in these categories since you only need a solid single. Thus, regardless of ownership percentage, choose a good player to ensure a win.

Play Against Larger Number of Competitors

Remember to play in contests that have the most number of unique competitors. Additionally, always consider the number of entries a bettor can admit. You don’t want to play in a contest against 50 players who have to finish under the top 25. You’ll want a contest with 500 players who have to finish under in the top 250 to better your chances of paying out.

Takeaway

Relying on game plans will not guarantee your win in every contest. However, relying on one can improve your odds of winning. You should always update yourself on the real-world competitions to reassess your position or line up now and then. Watching the live games or reading the sports news can better your chances in DFS NFL.

Good news – after its five-month absence, this season’s Champions League finally gets back underway.

Things are even more tense than usual with games being decided after 90 minutes, rather than the two legs that we’re accustomed to, in the knockout stages.

Champions League betting will be made harder, as there’s no home advantage – and matches are not only being held behind closed doors, but the Estádio da Luz and Estádio José Alvalade, both in Lisbon, will host the remaining fixtures. There’s no doubt that this is a year – not just a football season – we’ll never forget, so let’s take a look back at some of our favourite memories from Europe’s elite cup competition.

1. 2004: Jose Mourinho’s wild celebrations

The Special One is no stranger to an OTT celebration, but how could we forget that moment in the 2003-04 season when Porto knocked out Mourinho’s future club, Manchester United? Despite Porto winning the first leg of their Round of 16 clash, it looked as though United would go through on away goals, having been ahead 1-0 in the second leg. But when Costinha equalised in the dying stages to send Porto through 3-2 on aggregate, the Portuguese manager went wild. The iconic celebrations saw Mourinho leap up from the dugout and bolt it down the touchline to join his team at the corner flag – epic! It was justified though, as after beating Lyon and Deportivo La Coruña, Porto won the final triumphantly against Monaco.

2. 2004: Rooney’s debut to remember

Ahead of the 2004-05 season, a certain Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United, and it was a memorable debut on the European stage. Having been ruled out since limping off against Portugal at Euro 2004, it was a dream start for the youngster. The Red Devils were hosting Fenerbahçe in the second game of Group D. What better way to enamour yourself to the fans than by bagging a hat-trick? The 18-year-old became the youngest player to score a hat-trick on a debut in the Champions League – a record that’s yet to be broken. The pick of the bunch? His third goal from a direct free-kick, despite the Fener wall splitting. And he wasn’t done there – he set up the assist for David Bellion to score the game’s final goal as United won 6-2.

3. 2005: That night in Istanbul(!)

We can’t mention the greatest moments without mentioning the manner in which Liverpool won the final in 2005. It was a horrendous start, when Paulo Maldini put AC Milan ahead after 50 seconds, and the heavy favourites were three goals to the good at half time, courtesy of a Hernán Crespo brace. However, the underdogs came out for the second half lining up in a different formation and made a second substitution – and the comeback was soon on. Goals from captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimír Šmicer and Xabi Alonso sent the scores level and that’s how it stayed after 90- and 120-minutes. We all know what happened next – Milan missed their first two penalties and the ascendancy was very much with Liverpool. From three goals down, to win the shootout 3-2 and forge the greatest comeback in Champions League history!

4. 2017: Barcelona’s almighty comeback vs PSG

Barcelona’s journey in the 2016-17 Champions League looked all but over after the first leg in the Round of 16, as they were on the end of a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. But at the Camp Nou, PSG were unrecognisable, and the hosts were dominant – becoming the first team to overturn a four-goal deficit. The Catalan giants were 5-3 down on aggregate after 88 minutes but scored three goals in the game’s final seven minutes – including two injury time goals from Neymar and Roberto. The Nou Camp erupted as Barça were victorious 6-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate – and made the quarter-finals for the tenth successive season.

5. 2018: Final to forget for Loris Karius

Real Madrid won their third successive Champion League title and overcame Liverpool, where Reds’ goalkeeper Loris Karius had a personal nightmare. After a goalless opening period, the first mistake came six minutes after the break. Karius threw the ball against the foot of Karim Benzema and watched in horror as the ball rolled into the back of the net. Although Liverpool hit back through Mohamed Salah, Real regained the lead through a wonder strike by Gareth Bale. The Welsh winger added to his tally, securing the win, as Karius once again was at fault – fumbling the 30-yard strike. And that was the end of his tenure at Anfield, as he was shipped out on loan to Beşiktaş!